Considering that "Black Water Gold" is about lost gold from the era of the Spanish galleons, you'd think it would be a lot more exciting than it turned out to be. Poor dialog and a poor print ultimately made this film tedious...
Fast-paced treasure hunt finds self-proclaimed scuba "bum" (Kincaid) framed for murder after local king-pin's (Dillman) thug overdoes the standover routine on two divers searching for antiquities of a sunken Spanish galleon. When Kincaid discovers the ill-fated pair recovered part of the long-lost bounty, he enlists the aid of marine archaeologist (Dullea) and local treasure-hunter (Montalban) to raise the wreck before Dillman can cash-in.
BLACK WATER GOLD is a cheap undersea exploration movie which reminded me a little of the Burt Reynolds vehicle SHARK!. It's grainy and unspectacular, making use of realistic locations but managing to waste a number of intriguing cast members in a plot which is anything but special.
I too saw this film when I was young,15,in 1974, and enjoyed it, But I was in hospital, (with cancer)and very scared, And seeing this film cheered me up and that it why I think have never forgotten it, I too always remembered the theme song, and when I found a DVD of the film, I was fearful that I would spoil the fond memories that I had, I am happy to say that this is still a fun little treasure movie, with lot's of underwater action, good performance's from all the cast , France Nuyen has always been a favorite of mine ,I also like Ricardo Montalban, and seeing this film again, I would say that this is my favorite performance by Bradford Dillman, only trouble with his character is, Why did someone so "Camp" Have a Girlfried ? (I loved the conversation he had with his Mother)One thing I did not remember was what an attractive girl Lana Wood was.
A scuba bum joins a marine archaeologist and a Mexican historian in a race to reach a treasure from a sunken Spanish galleon, ahead of a well-armed dilettante and his associates. Great cast, fairly intense TV movie, with Keir sporting a hearing aid and mustache.
Out doing a little illegal sample gathering, scuba diver Ray Sandage (Aron Kincaid) witnesses two men murdered in the water just above. Returning to shore, he's delighted and shocked to find a gold coin among the items he collected.
I saw "Black Water Gold" broadcast on TV when I was about 12 years old. I remember it being an exciting scuba-diving adventure.
